Who is conservative?
Practical, Therapeutic, Theological Talk: “The real game is the game you are in.”
Friends:
There has been much to be thankful for. “Like what?” you ask. No matter who your candidate is, you are distressed by the opposition. There is plenty to gripe about. There’s a killer virus in the population. Speed is killing us. Love of money proves to be the root of evil, which has been recognized through the ages by humanity in general. The evil of its love is easily apparent regardless of the society or culture. Terror, death, and destruction overwhelm the Sinai Peninsula.
But let’s not get mesmerized by darkness. The foliage is brilliant these days. Dr. King pointed out that darkness cannot overcome the light of a single candle. Our calling is to appreciate the good and the beautiful.
A friend wrote the essay below that I am attaching. It is a thoughtful word. I recommend it to you.
~ Penrod
I raise my hand immediately along with a host of democrats and republicans and other citizens and probably you who want to conserve our land and keep our water clean and breathe clean air. We conservatives want this for every citizen of our great country—for the whole world as a matter of fact. We want to preserve these vital treasures for our children.
Isn’t it amazing that there are powerful people and parties who say they are “conservative” but try to stop or pull back efforts to preserve the land and keep the water and air clean?
How can that be? At the least they should be willing to stop calling themselves “conservatives.” At least, we true conservatives, republican and democrat and fellow travelers, should proclaim our conservatism which is genuine conservatism. Nothing can stop us from doing that.
I raise my hand again, along with the rest of you conservatives who want to invest in education, for example, realizing that our schools are about the main way our civil society uses for teaching and caring for our children and giving people a shot at an equal chance. We conservatives want to conserve public education which has served our country so well and has been at the heart of our common wealth. What objection can there be to the conviction that universal public education is conservative? How can anyone object to dedication to furthering the education of every citizen of this land regardless of income or anything else?
Incredibly, many of the folks who tout the name “conservative” want to spend less on public education. They propose, rather, to ignore equality of education and ignore professional standards. I can’t imagine a good argument for what they want to do. Regardless, it’s not conservative.
I can think of only one thing in which the so-called conservatives are conservative—maintaining the advantage of the wealthy and the money makers. In that respect, I’m not a conservative if for no other reason than that they can clearly take care of themselves.
What are some other examples? Regardless of political party or none, we true conservatives daily proclaim our will to conserve our roads and buildings and infrastructure. We have so much; this is a great and rich country.
I qualify as a conservative, certainly in intention as described above. God knows, I could do much better. A lot of you true conservatives do much more thanI. Thank you. Our civil society, the greatest blessing on earth, requires conserving and needs conservatives to keep conserving the vital gifts of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Happily, there is a lot of conserving going on right now. There are teachers, there are young people who are very careful about how they live trying to lessen the toll on the environment. That’s just two examples. There’s plenty more and plenty of room for more, anyone can get on board. There is no difference in the fare.*
*A tip of the hat to Marion Anderson singing “The Gospel Train.” “Get on board little children, get on board. There’s room for many a more…No second class aboard this train, No difference in the fare.”
Early responses:
“Sing Marion Anderson, sing. Step aside, Penrod, step aside.” Anon
“Your friend is just as screwy as you, Penrod.”